A growing number of New York Democrats are calling on Mayor Eric Adams (D) to resign, broadly stating that his federal criminal indictment will hinder his ability to run the city.
A federal indictment unsealed Thursday states that Adams has been charged with bribery, wire fraud and seeking illegal campaign donations. The 57-page indictment accuses the mayor of having “sought and accepted improper valuable benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him.” The indictment followed several high-profile resignations within his administration in recent weeks.
New York Democrats in positions of leadership have declined to call on Adams to step down, instead acknowledging that the charges against him are serious but arguing for the presumption of innocence. However, several other elected officials, including members of Congress, have called on the mayor to resign.
On Wednesday afternoon, before news broke that Adams would be facing an indictment, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) wrote on X, “I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City.
“The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration,” she wrote. “For the good of the city, he should resign.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Thursday declined to call for the mayor’s resignation, saying that Adams “is entitled to the presumption of innocence.”
“A jury of the Mayor’s peers will now evaluate the charges in the indictment and ultimately render a determination. In the meantime, I pray for the well-being of our great City,” he added.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), who has the power to remove Adams from office, told reporters in Syracuse on Thursday that she was reviewing the charges.
Other prominent New York Democrats in Washington, including Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, have yet to say publicly whether they think Adams should step down. The White House also declined to weigh in Thursday, with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre deferring to the Department of Justice to speak to the matter.
Jumaane Williams, the city’s public advocate, is first in line to succeed Adams should he leave office. In a statement responding to the indictment, Williams stopped short of calling on Adams to resign, but wrote that the charges ‘are even more sweeping and severe than imagined.”
“It is federal officials’ obligation to prove their case, it is the mayor’s obligation to prove to New Yorkers that there is a real plan and path to govern the city effectively and regain trust, and his time to show that plan is rapidly running out,’ he added.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander (D), who is second in line to be acting mayor should Adams leave office, called on Adams to resign. Lander is running against Adams for mayor in 2025.
At least two Democratic congressional candidates pursuing seats in competitive New York districts, Laura Gillen and John Avlon, have called on Adams to resign.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a Republican putting his mistress on the taxpayer-funded payroll or a Democrat seeking influence, if you abuse your power you’ve got to go,” Gillen said, referencing allegations of ethics conflicts by Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-N.Y.), whom she is trying to unseat.
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D) told reporters, “We are very troubled by everything that’s transpired,” but stopped short of calling for the mayor to resign. She said she would like him to “fully consider” the needs of New Yorkers, and “seriously consider whether or not he can fully give his attention” to the job amid the investigation.
Both Lander and Speaker Adams could play a role in removing the mayor. Along with the governor’s ability to remove Adams from office, a second option for removing the mayor would be through consideration by an “inability committee,” a process laid out in the city’s charter. The charter states that the committee’s list of members would include the city comptroller and speaker of the city council.
The New York City Council’s Progressive Caucus, which represents 19 of the council’s 51 members, called for Adams to resign.
“This is a crisis of [Adams’s] own making, a reflection of poor decision-making, failed leadership, and disregard for the rule of law that he expounds,” a caucus statement said. “No amount of scapegoating can distract from the serious and thorough nature of the federal investigation. Mayor Adams must resign.”
Council member Lincoln Restler (D), who is part of the progressive caucus, said in an earlier statement that if Adams refuses to resign “he must be removed from office as prescribed by the charter.”
Antonio Reynoso, who succeeded Adams as Brooklyn borough president, asked the mayor “to put New Yorkers first and resign.”
New York state Sen. John C. Liu (D), who represents parts of Queens, said in a statement that while Adams “is innocent until proven guilty” and entitled to due process, the indictment “will take all of his might to defend against these federal charges.”
“The people of New York City, however, need a mayor who is able to devote full time and full energy to putting the city on the right track. … Mayor Adams is simply unable to do that for the foreseeable future,” Liu added.
At least two New York Republicans in the House, Reps. Nicole Malliotakis and Elise Stefanik, joined Democrats in calling for Adams’s resignation.